State Parks urges Fourth of July celebrants to recreate responsibly

Parks staff offer reminders, tips and rules for fireworks and use of state parks

OLYMPIA – June 22, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission encourages safe and responsible gatherings in state parks during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

Parks urges visitors to:

• Know before you go – Check for park closures and alerts before heading out.
• Leave no trace – Garbage receptacles may be available, but visitors should plan to pack out trash and anything they have brought with them. All fireworks must be fully extinguished before visitors dispose of them.
• Practice fire safety – Always check if a burn ban is in place before starting a fire. Fires must be small, contained and at least 100 feet from the dunes and extinguished before leaving.
• Respect beach closures – There may be beach driving closures in areas designated to protect wildlife and marine habitat.
• Camping on the beach is illegal - Please find other overnight accommodations.
• Keep our beaches beautiful – We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love. Opportunities include volunteering for a beach cleanup on July 5. Our ecosystems are fragile and we need to help protect our marine life from trash and plastics.
• Use designated restrooms - Dunes are not toilets and it's illegal to relieve yourself on the beach.
• Patrols - State Parks Rangers, along with local law enforcement and Washington State Patrol, will be patrolling the beach, providing education and enforcement.
• Drive carefully - Please respect any beach driving closures in areas designated to protect wildlife and marine habitat. Although it is legal to drive onto the beach in several areas, all the rules of the road apply. The speed limit is 25 mph and pedestrians are always granted the right of way. Four-wheel drive is strongly recommended and please be aware of the high tide line and times. Cars parked below the high tide line may get stuck or washed out to sea. Law enforcement and volunteers will not be able to tow stuck cars.

Although personal fireworks may be legal on ocean beaches, State Parks, partners and law enforcement wish to remind people that fireworks are illegal on state park lands, including on beaches in front of Washington state parks. Please be respectful public and private property.

Legal fireworks should be:

• Discharged from a safe location, 150 feet from dunes, people and vehicles
• Submerged in water before thrown away

Fireworks are also banned in forests, wildlife reserves and some cities, towns and counties. Pacific County only allows the discharge of fireworks from July 2 to July 4 on ocean beaches. The City of Ocean Shores only allows fireworks on the beach in front of the city; only on July 2 and July 3, noon to 11 p.m. and July 4, noon to midnight, only between Damon Road and Marine View Drive. The City of Ocean Shores prohibits the discharge of fireworks within city limits. Additionally, the City of Westport has banned the use of fireworks within city limits and on all beaches.

For those visiting state parks, a Discover Pass is required for vehicle access.

On beaches where no restrictions exist, consumer fireworks may be used or discharged within the following timeframes:

• June 28: Noon to 11 p.m.
• June 29 – July 3: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• July 4: 9 a.m. to midnight
• July 5: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

News media contacts:
Emily Masseth, Communications Consultant, media@parks.wa.gov

Jay Carmony, Assistant Southwest Region Manager, Jay.Carmony@parks.wa.gov, (360) 725-9773

Valerie Roberts, Volunteer Program Specialist, Valerie.Roberts@parks.wa.gov, (360) 902-8612

About Seashore conservation area

Washington State Parks manages the Seashore Conservation Area, which includes numerous camping and day-use parks from Pacific Beach south to Cape Disappointment State Park. The Seashore Conservation Area was established in 1967 to provide and preserve recreational use on Washington's coast for generations to come.